According to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), neither team erred. Officials initially told both to wear white. But after a summer of four losses (including the Italy exhibition game), what's a little uniform miscue in the big picture?

The U.S. eventually fetched its red uniforms, the game began, and the Americans took a 104-96 victory in a contest that featured little defense.

Lithuania made 21 3-pointers and still lost. Shawn Marion led the U.S. with 22 points. Allen Iverson contributed 15, and Stephon Marbury and Lamar Odom scored 14 apiece.

"We wanted gold, but I'm going to take anything right now," Marion said. "That's the way it is."

The U.S. lost to Argentina in the semifinals and were forced to play for bronze. Argentina then beat Italy 84-69 Saturday and won the gold medal.

The U.S. entered the Games with an overall Olympics record of 109-2. These Americans finished at 5-3, including losses to Puerto Rico and Lithuania. For only the third time, they competed and failed to win gold.

After the embarrassing loss to Argentina, it was difficult for the Americans to get up for this game.

"This is probably the hardest game I've ever been involved in, in terms of being a coach," said U.S. Coach Larry Brown.

Now, the attention turns to how to fix the problems within U.S. men's basketball. The women's team offered some advice after winning gold with a 74-63 victory over Australia on Saturday: Convince the best players to play.

"The difference between us and the guys is that we have experienced players here," U.S. point guard Dawn Staley said. "They don't have any."

Seven of the first nine players the U.S. selected for this team dropped out before the Games, including Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and Jason Kidd. Others, such as Kevin Garnett and Shaquille O'Neal, never committed in the first place.

Perennial all-stars Tim Duncan and Iverson were left to play with a group of up-and-coming youngsters who weren't ready for this stage. Carmelo Anthony guaranteed a gold medal, but quickly realized that wouldn't be easy.

"We're kind of learning the game," Amare Stoudemire said before the Games began. "And right now, we're on a high stage learning the game."

This disappointment will spur calls for change within USA Basketball. The committee is expected to review several options and determine the best way to put a team together. Brown has called for a philosophy in which a true team, not an all-star team, is selected.

Stu Jackson, the chairman of the senior men's national committee, said training time is the biggest issue. The U.S. suffered all those dropouts from a team that played well in an Olympic qualifier last summer and then didn't begin training with new players until about three weeks before the Games.

"The length of our training, that is the No. 1 issue we need to address," Jackson said. "It's up to USA Basketball to decide what we want to do to combat that."

But with NBA players playing such a long regular season, the question is how to get players to commit even more time.

"How do we do it?" Jackson asked. "I don't know if we can."

Jackson said many things, including personnel selection, is "an open book."

Stoudemire said he would like to play again in 2008. Anthony said so as well. LeBron James didn't speak as strongly, but he is open to the idea.

"In 2008, when we're in our prime, the original Dream Team will probably re-emerge," Stoudemire said.

Others aren't so optimistic. Duncan will be only 32 in 2008, but he doesn't see himself playing.

"I'm about 95 percent sure my FIBA career is over," said Duncan, who spent most of his Olympics in foul trouble.